Unlike Terms
The unlike terms not having the same literal coefficients.
For example:
(i) 5ab, 5a, 5ac are unlike terms because they do not have identical variables.
(ii) 11xy, 11x
2y, 11xy
2 are unlike terms.
(iii) 2x, 2y, 2m are unlike terms.
Now look at the terms of the following polynomials:
(i) 11a
2b
2 + 3ab
2
We observe that two terms of the binomial (11a
2b
2 and 3ab
2) have same variables raised to different powers. So, the binomial is made up of two unlike terms or dissimilar terms.
(ii) 7m
2 - 2m + 10m
3
We observe that the three terms of the trinomial have same variables (m) raised to different
powers. So, the above trinomial is made up of three unlike or dissimilar terms.
(iii) 3x
2 - 5xy + 7x
2y
We observe that the three terms of the trinomial (3x
2, 5xy and 7x
2y) have different variables raised to different powers. So, the trinomial is made up of three unlike terms.
(iv) 11m
3n
3 - nm + 9m
2 - 4m
2n
2
We observe that the four terms of the polynomials (11m
3n
3, nm, 9m
2 and 4m
2n
2) have different variables raised to different power. The numerical coefficients are also different. So, the polynomials is made up of four unlike or dissimilar terms.
Examples to identify unlike or dissimilar terms:
Identify which pairs contain unlike terms in the following:
(i) 5ab, 7ab
(ii) 3x, 4x
2
(iii) m, n
(iv) 2m
2, 3m
3
(v) 6a
2b, 11ab
2
(vi) –xy, 7yx
Solution:
(i) 5ab, 7ab
The terms 5ab and 7ab have same literal factors (ab) so this
pair is a like term.
(ii) 3x, 4x
2
The terms 3x and 4x
2 have different literal factors so this pair is an unlike term.
(iii) m, n
The terms m and n have different literal factors so this
pair is an unlike term.
(iv) 2m
2, 3m
3
The terms 2m
2 and 3m
3 have different literal factors so this pair is an unlike term.
(v) 6a
2b, 11ab
2
The terms 6a^2b and 11ab^2 have different literal factors so this pair is an unlike term.
(vi) –xy, 7yx
The terms –xy and 7yx have same literal factors (xy) so this
pair is a like term.
● Terms
Like and Unlike Terms
Like Terms
Addition of Like Terms
Subtraction of Like Terms
Adding and Subtracting Like Terms
Unlike Terms
Addition of Unlike Terms
Subtraction of Unlike Terms
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